Comments on: The Childless Woman: Some Correlation Needed

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:19:35 +0000

“Zelph, the non-elf from Guelph,” by Keith. Now there’s a bad pome waiting to be written — where’s Guest when you need him?

By: Keith

Keith — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:20:45 +0000

Elf! Why not elf? It may not be in line with LDS Theology, but not any more nor less than pelf. And like most things that talk about the self positively it all ends up a mess.

What gratitude I hold within myself
That I was born a man and not an elf

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:54:07 +0000

You calling E. A. Guest a poet???

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:42:44 +0000

If poets like Guest and Clough and Scott can’t do better, who are we to struggle?

But are there no Canadian poets who could write

She wandered along all by herself
Until she reached the town of Guelph

or lonely, whiny people who could moan

No one loves me, I’m by myself,
I feel as though I’ve been put on the shelf

or even a Mormon who could write

Enough of your Nephi! He talks of himself!
I’d much rather dream of the silent man Zelph!

Must “pelf” forever be the only accepted rhyme for “self”? I guess that’s why we keep it hanging around in our vocabulary.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:00:47 +0000

I have to live with my pelf, and so . . .

Guest actually uses the word this way:
“But here in this struggle for fame and pelf,
I want to be able to like myself.”

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:54:50 +0000

Ha! Thanks for that, graham48; another “pelf” sighting, and what do you know … the poet dragged it out to rhyme with “self” again …

By: graham48

graham48 — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:27:10 +0000

Arthur Hough Clough, “Spectator ab extra”

As I sat at the Café I said to myself,
They may talk as they please about what they call pelf,
They may sneer as they like about eating and drinking,
But help it I cannot, I cannot help thinking
How pleasant it is to have money, heigh-ho!
How pleasant it is to have money.

By: m&m

m&m — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:17:33 +0000

Ardis, this was a great post.

I appreciate the appreciation of Correlation. I have a deeper appreciation for it after being able to see a little more how much care and concern and counseling and prayer goes into the process (I have a couple of friends on the committee). They would be the first to admit they are not perfect, but there is much good done, and the Spirit is not a stranger to what they do.

And I don’t envy their job. It’s a hard, hard job.

p.s. Maybe your poem (18) should be nominated for a Niblet.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:44:37 +0000

JonW, you have me envisioning the online Ensign with an open comments policy akin to the one at the Salt Lake Tribune ...

By: JonW

JonW — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:29:38 +0000

How many dictionaries do you have to look at to get to Pelf…

Self = poetic nightmare.

I for one think conflicting letters to the editor section would make the Ensign more interesting. Who needs all that uplift and spirituality when you get some good old fashion conflict.

Of course I am kidding, thankfully we do not have to worry about that kind of thing.